Written piece
My Nature Quilt
Gloria Seow
Singapore
About this piece
This poem is an ode to nature as the defining essence of my life. It spells out how my many threads linked to nature has woven itself into my nature quilt.
Year 2006 jumps out in my mind.
My then husband walked out, leaving me behind.
Deflated but not defeated, I began a journey of remodelling.
To pursue what I had neglected, to find my true calling.
I joined the Nature Society that fateful year.
My first foray was into bird watching, a hobby I still hold dear.
Being out in nature helped me heal.
Paving the way to my second husband Tim – the real deal.
From birds, I crossed over to the dark side.
Becoming interested in wildlife that prowl at night.
Naturally, Tim is a nature lover too, the Slow Loris.
My persona became the Owl. We are night creatures in gist.
From a nature enthusiast, I morphed into a volunteer nature leader.
Delivering eco-programmes for young families in good order.
I continued to explore nature in my backyard and abroad.
All the while building up my wildlife knowledge vault.
From a passionate volunteer, I turned professional.
Serving as a wildlife guide for schools, corporates and others.
We are known as Loris and Owl, a holistic nature outfit.
Where nature is imbibed by day and by night, thankfully a hit.
In recent years, my nature exploits have ratcheted up in intensity.
I edited a nature magazine and a book on wildlife photography.
I authored four picture books on animals in jeopardy.
I now write for a nature behemoth that protects wildlife from tragedy.
What started out as a tenuous thread to nature, wispy as spider silk.
Has grown so much that today, the nature community is my ilk.
I am thankful that this thread has multiplied, weaving naturally into a quilt.
My nature quilt shimmers in rainbow colours and is still expanding at full tilt.